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12:00-01

NOON-HEADLINES

TALENT=Melanie
SS=None
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VO-NAT

The standoff between federal agents and the Freemen continues in Montana,
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ANCHOR=Melanie
and a reporter's digging leads to millions of dollars in refunds by the M-C-I
long distance company.
(/////////////)
TALENT=Patrick
SS=None

Our sunny weekend forecast is changing, and not for the better.
Stay tuned for the cloudy details of what's to come from the News 7 Weather
Center.
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ANCHOR=Melanie
ss=NONE

Don't go away, the news is next.

Boty-Student

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=none

Authorities are trying to figure out what killed a 14-year-old Lord
Botetourt High School freshman.
Assistant Principal Barbara Gray says Justin Hunter Wilburn of Cloverdale
collapsed in class shortly after 10:30 yesterday morning.
She says two teachers immediatly administered CPR, but emergency medical
technicians did not arrive at the scene for about 20 minutes.
Wilburn later died at the hospital.
Assistant County Administrator Ned McElwain says there is a shortage of
volunteers at Botetourt County rescue squads.
An autopsy on Wilburn is scheduled for today.

drug-sweep

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=NONE

Surprise drug and weapons searches in two of three Bedford County High
Schools this morning have turned up nothing.
The Bedford County sheriff's department and State Police are conducting the
searches at the request of school officials and concerned citizens.
Law officers are using four dogs, all trained to sniff out drugs, weapons,
and bombs.
Sheriff Mike Brown says all three high schools will be searched by the end of
the day.

France

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=none

In Northern France, a police raid and gunbattle after a car bomb is
discovered near the site of an international conference scheduled for next
week.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=nat sound
SUPER=03-Roubaix, France;
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=(GUNS FIRING, GRENADES, ETC.)
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VO-NAT

At least three suspects were killed in the raid at this home in the city of
Roubaix (roo-BAY')
Authorities found the booby trapped car some 300 yards from a conference
center where ministers of the world's top industrial democracies meet next
week.
French officials believe there is no link between this incident and a wave of
bombings in France linked to Muslim militants.
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Montana

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=NONE

F-B-I officials and members of a heavily armed anti-government group
continue their standoff in Montana.
The confrontation with the so-called "Freemen" is now in its fifth day.
Yesterday, a federal judge entered innocent pleas for two Freemen leaders
arrested Monday.
John Blackstone has more on the Feds' waiting game.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The FBI now says
SUPER=03-Garfield Co., MT; :00
SUPER=01-Sherry Metteucci/U.S. Attorney; :35
SUPER=01-Lew Penningey/Freemen Supporter; :59
SUPER=07-Jill Hellyer; 1:20
SUPER=01-John Blackstone/Reporting; 1:30
RUNS=1:43
OUT Q=John Blackstone CBS News Garfield County, Montana.
((
The FBI now says at least ten fugitives from justice are holed up
on the Montana ranch claimed as sovereign territory by the anti-
government group that calls itself the freemen.
They include three men previously apprehended in North Carolina,
but on the loose again.
Steven Hance and his sons John and James are wanted for assaulting a
policeman.
And from Colorado Dana Dudley and Russell Landers, two anti
government activists wanted for fraud.
District Attorney Sherry Matteucci warned that those on the ranch
are dangerous.
SHERRY METTEUCCI, U.S. ATTORNEY
FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY, MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO STAY AWAY
FROM THE PROPERTY BEING USED BY THE PEOPLE WHO DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS FREEMEN.
In Federal Court in Billings the two Freemen arrested
Monday, Leroy Schweitzer and Daniel Peterson, heard the charges
against them: 51 counts of financial fraud, 5 counts of
threatening public officials.
A lone supporter of the Freemen held a vigil in front of the courthouse.
LEW PENNINGEY, FREEMEN SUPPORTER
I CAME HERE TO WITNESS SCHWITZER'S AND PETERSEN'S RIGHTS BEING VIOLATED, AND I
THINK THEY WERE.
And in Garfield county there are others who, while they may not
believe in the Freemen cause, worry about the safety of those on the ranch.
Jill Hellyer has family members among the freemen.
Her cousin Ebert Stanton, his wife Val, their five year old daughter Mariah.
JILL HELLYER:I HAD ONE OF MY RELATIVES SAY WHY NOT DROP A BOMB ON EM. I WENT
COMPLETELY CRAZY, HOW COULD YOU KILL A 5 YEAR OLD GIRL FOR WHAT HER PARENTS
HAVE DONE?
While the FBI is staying well back, continuing to use patience as
a tactic in this standoff...for those here with family members
inside the waiting is hard.
John Blackstone CBS News Garfield County, Montana.))

Congress

It's a race against the clock.
Congressional Republicans today drafted an emergency measure to keep the
government running through April 24th.
Congress must approve a measure by midnight to prevent the third government
shutdown in five months.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Capitol Hill;

Meantime, President Clinton pledges to sign a massive farm bill passed
during an early morning House session.
The measure would end the link between farm prices and government subsidies.
Supporters say it will save two billion dollars over seven years.
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SOT
IN Q=
4;02;43-58
((REP. SAM FARR/D-CALIFORNIA: THIS BILL IS BETTER THAN NO BILL...ANY PRICE
SUPPORTS. ))
SUPER=01-Rep. Sam Farr/(D) California;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=any price supports./
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VO-NAT

But critics say it will actually cost money and may end government
protections for farmers.
The Senate passed the bill yesterday.
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tease#1
HARD MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

Still to come, Governor Allen has some good news for college students,
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VO-NAT
and the fight over who gets to build a new hospital in the New River Valley
heats up.
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wx-tease
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comm1

MCI

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=none

M-C-I long distance customers are about to get a big refund.
The company confirms it's refunding money for overcharging on some
long-distance calls by at least 18 cents per call.
Virginia regulators approached M-C-I after a reporter at Richmond T-V
station W-R-I-C questioned a billing he received.
The reporter was making collect calls for a price-comparison story, and
found M-C-I billed him for four minutes on a three-minute call.
M-C-I is expected to make an announcement about the refund
later today.
M-C-I blames the overbilling
on a computer error.

Radford-Hospital

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-15
GRAPHIC=None

Montgomery Regional Hospital is offering NO public comment on an E-mail memo
that one state official is calling offensive and inappropriate.
It's the latest twist in an increasingly ugly turf battle over who gets to
build a new hospital in the New River Valley.
Ellen Qualls has the details.
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SOT
IN Q=Radford Community
SUPER=03-Richmond; :07
SUPER=@Ellen1; :48
SUPER=01-Skip Lamb/Radford Community Hospital; 1:05
RUNS=1:26
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.
(( Radford Community Hospital wants permission to build a new replacement
hospital just outside of Radford.
Montgomery Regional CEO Gene Wright is still fighting for Columbia/HCA to
get to build a facility that would meet that need instead.
A September 1995 memo allegedly written by Wright -- and handed over to the
state by Radford Community's attorneys -- indicates Wright may have gone a step
too far.
The memo talks about petitions Radford Community posted at churches and
stores.
The memo to Montgomery Regional employees reads "I will give 20- dollars for
each original brought here to me."
The memo ends with "This is a fight for future dominance."
The memo's authorship was NOT denied by Wright's attorneys, and the state
health department examiner considering the larger issue of the new hospital was
NOT amused.
standup
Examiner Raymond Perry says the memo is offensive, clearly inappropriate,
and in his words "just awful" -- but he says he has NO authority to sanction or
investigate Montgomery Regional.
runs=:00

It all leaves Radford Community Hospital's plans looking a little closer to
state approval.
sot 02:27:21
((SKIP LAMB/RADFORD COMMUNITY HOSPITAL: WELL FROM THE BEGINNING WE FELT THAT
WE HAD A VERY SOLID CASE. AND NOTHING THAT'S OCCURRED HERE MAKES US FEEL ANY
DIFFERENT. WE'RE VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'RE GONNA GET THE CERTIFICATE OF
PUBLIC NEED. VERY OPTIMISTIC.))
runs=:12

Planned-Parenthood

Planned Parenthood reportedly plans to offer drug-induced abortions at its
New York clinics starting in June.
The organization's president tells the New York "Daily News" the
procedure will then be made available nationwide as an option to first-term
surgical abortions.

County-School

On Tuesday voters in Roanoke County will decide whether more than 30-
million dollars will be used for the construction of a new high school.
A coalition opposing the project met at Glenvar High School last night.
Jay Moore has the story.
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SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Last Night; :00
SUPER=01-Charles Landis/School Teacher; :09
SUPER=01-Bob Crouse/C.C.C.L. President; :30
SUPER=@Jay2; :39
SUPER=01-Loyd Tingler/Bond Opponent; :47
SUPER=01-John Huffman/C.C.C.L. Vice President; 1:16
RUNS=1:40
OUT Q=Jay Moore, News 7.
(( Although small in number, the Catawba Coalition of Civic Leagues and
Community Leaders came out to encourage residents NOT to vote in favor of
Tuesday's referendum.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 19:25:00
IN Q=This is not an
((CHARLES LANDIS/SCHOOL TEACHER: THIS IS NOT AN EDUCATION ISSUE. IT'S A
MATTER OF HOW DO WE GO ABOUT SETTING UP THE PROPER FACILITY AND HOW DO WE PAY
FOR THAT FACILITY. AND I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I DON'T THINK THE SCHOOL
BOARD HAS DONE THEIR HOMEWORK.))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=their homework.

The School Board caught a lot heat.
If the referendum is PASSED the coalition's president says the School Board
members will be remembered in the next election.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 20:14:14
IN Q=You put them
((BOB CROUSE/C.C.C.L. PRESIDENT; YOU PUT THEM IN THE OFFICE. YOU CAN REMOVE
THEM FROM OFFICE. YOU'RE NOT BEING VINDICTIVE. YOU JUST WANT TO KNOW WHERE
YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT AND HOW IT'S BEING SPENT.))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=it's being spent

Some even suggested that it's NOT only the School Board but the county
administration as well.
This after a recent trip to the administration building with some questions.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 20:09:34
IN Q=But come to find
((LOYD TINGLER/BOND OPPONENT: BUT COME TO FIND OUT YOU CAN'T BELIEVE NOBODY
OVER THERE BECAUSE ONE PERSON TELLS YOU ONE THING AND SOME OTHER PERSON WILL
TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE. IT'S NO TRUTH. COME TO FIND OUT THERE'S NO PLANNING
OVER THERE. IT'S PLUM DAMN RIDICULOUS.))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=plum damn ridiculous.

Opponents say the project is OVERPRICED, and could result in higher taxes.
They also say there hasn't been enough study into building a new school.
Supporters say it's needed because schools are overcrowded.
The Coalition's vice president suggested adjusting the geographical lines of
attendance.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 20:00:57
IN Q=Although Cave Spring
((JOHN HUFFMAN/C.C.C.L. VICE PRESIDENT; ALTHOUGH CAVE SPRING JUNIOR HIGH IS
OVER CAPACITY BY 84 STUDENTS. YOU ALSO HAVE THE HIDDEN VALLEY JUNIOR HIGH IN
AN ADJACENT GEOGRAPHIC ZONE WHICH IS UNDER CAPACITY BY 88 STUDENTS))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=by 88 students.

The coalition is a fairly new group, forming just two months ago.
It's made up of nine different civic leagues.
And they say their voice will be heard come Tuesday. Jay Moore, News 7.))

Tuition

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=cro
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=education

Governor Allen says he'll freeze state college tuition for the next four
years.
Allen announced the freeze this morning.
It's an extension of a two-year cap in the General Assembly's budget.
The governor says the cost of four years of college would rise by
44-hundred dollars without the cap in place.
Tease#2
SOFT MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

Still to come --
More on the malpractice suit against a local spine surgeon,
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VO-NAT
and the space shuttle Atlantis is unhitched.
A successful parting of ways, next, on News 7 at Noon.
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music up full
comm2

Korsh

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=cst
TAPE#96-13
GRAPHIC=Korsh

A third day in court today for the former Lewis Gale Clinic spine surgeon
facing a malpractic lawsuit.
Connie Stevens recaps yesterday's proceedings in the trial of Dr. Eric
Korsh.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Pat Brunson,
SUPER=03-Roanoke; ::00
SUPER=@File; ::28
SUPER=@Connie2; :
RUNS=:59
OUT Q=CS.News 7.
(( Pat Brunson-- a self-proclaimed cowboy-- claims Dr. Korsh recommended
bone fusion surgery using pedicel screws-- simply for his own financial gain.
Brunson says while he did sign an informed consent agreement, acknowledging
that the procedure could be dangerous-- he trusted KORSH, instead.
He says the doctor told him he'd be pain-free and fully recovered with the
surgery.
Without it, he could be paralyzed.
Brunson says now, he's still in constant pain.
The defense though hired a private investigator, to videotape Brunson
working on his horse farm.
In the tape, he's riding, pulling, bending and squatting-- though he says
since the taping, he's even worse off.
Brunson and Korsh are also former friends-- and it's not the first time
they've been tied up legally.
Dr. Korsh filed a lawsuit against Brunson, trying to re-coup money from a
joint horse venture gone bad.
He dropped the suit, though.
Now this time around, it's Korsh who's the defendant.
Connie Stevens, News 7.))
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ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

Some 50 former patients have filed complaints against Korsh-- though several
cases have already been dropped.

Shuttle

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=atlantis

It's back to Earth for the Atlantis shuttle crew, minus one astronaut.
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VO-NAT

Atlantis unhitched from the Russian space station last night, leaving
behind scientist Shannon Lucid who will spend five months aboard Mir.
Crew members are quickly preparing tomorrow's landing, one day earlier than
planned.
Poor weather and a hydraulic problem forced the change.
The landing is set for just before 8 a-m at the Kennedy Space Center.
(----------------)

Deficit

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=nle
TAPE#=none
GRAPHIC=None

The U-S trade deficit has hit a six-month high, climbing to more than
ten-billion dollars.
The January deficit was nearly 48 percent larger than in December.
Private economists predict the monthly figures will look worse for several
more months.

Stocks

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=stocks

The stock market is rounding out the week with a lackluster session.
On Wall Street at noon the Dow was
DOWN eleven and a half points.
tease#3
SPORTS MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Melanie

What's in a name?
Patrick tells us as Baltimore gets ready to reveal the nickname of its new
N-F-L team.
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VO-NAT
and throw another shrimp on the barbie.
Roanoke College lacrosse goes down under, next, on News 7.
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MUSIC UP FULL
comm4

Baltimore-NFL

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=nle
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=NFL

Will it be the Ravens, Americans or Marauders?
Those are the three choices for the nickname of Baltimore's new N-F-L
football team.
The choice is expected to be announced today when team officials release the
results of a phone-in poll.

Kentucky

The N-C-DOUBLE-A Final Four Tournament returns to the metro New York area
for the first time since 1950.
But it's not at Madison Square Garden this year......
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VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-New York, NY; :00

The banners are up at the Continental Airlines Arena as the final four crew
spruces up the place.
SUPER=03-East Rutherford, NJ/Yesterday;

Rick Petino and his Kentucky Wildcats arrived in East Rutherford yesterday.
David Letterman made his prediction known.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="yeah
((DAVID LETTERMAN:))
RUNS=:03
OUT Q=...Kentucky"
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wipe wipe wipe

Miss

The Mississippi State Bulldogs also rolled into town yesterday.
The Dogs are matched against the home state boys of Syracuse.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Most
((RICHARD WILLIAMS/MISSISSIPPI STATE COACH:))
SUPER=01-Richard Williams/Mississippi State Coach; :00
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=...weekend"
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WIPE/WIPE/WIPE

(( say hello to A.J.
NAT SOUND"GOOD DAY"
Stoney
NAT SOUND
and Devo.
NAT SOUND
The threesome brought with them some clothes; their sticks and some common
phrases from the bush.
((PAUL STONE/MAROON DEFENSEMAN:))
Making a new home thousands of miles away from family and friends can be a
disagreeable task.
Thank goodness for southern hospitality.
((ADAM JACKSON/ROANOKE TEAM CAPTAIN:))
A.J. faces off and was the first Ausie to arrive in Salem. Getting adjusted
to America and Roanoke college rules were adventures in themselves.
((BILL PILAT/ROANOKE HEAD COACH:))
All maintain about a B average, play for the nation's fifth ranked team and
work to pay tuition. Being homesick can be a problem....finacially of course.
((A.J.:))
There have been other adjustments.
((JASON DAVENPORT/MAROON MIDFIELDER:))
They want a national championship very badly. But if they don't get it;
they'll leave Salem, Virginia headed back to Melbourne Austrailia with
something jsut as important.
((PAUL STONE:))
Steve Mason, News 7 Sports.))

WRAP

Coming up tonight on Health Check-- a report from Danville on Respite Care.
Plus, a rare interview with Dr. Jack Kevorkian, as he prepares for another
trial next week.
Join us for those stories, and more-- on News 7 at FIVE.
That's it for News 7 at NOON.
Thanks for joining us, and have a great weekend.